But this election is set to be the most contentious to date. The economy, while growing, is increasingly being funneled into the military, leaving less and less for the people. The conservative citizenry is growing tired of being brushed off, and seeks someone who will take socialism out of the government once and for all. At the same time, many of the candidates fail to excite the people, many even sparking fear.
Halend is about to have only the fifth election in its entire history. It will now be seen just how strong the democracy is.
How the Halendian Electoral System Works
Halend runs on a parliamentary system, for the most part. The parties running for the House of Representatives each nominate a candidate for the presidency and the prime ministry, and the party that gains the most seats gets to send their candidates to those positions. The presidency is not up for grabs in this election, due to an ongoing debate on whether the presidency and prime ministry should be merged into one entity.
Citizens vote on a first-past-the-post system. Many have suggested changing this to a fairer system, but this will require legislation to be passed by the incoming government.
The Parties and Candidates
Prime Minister Toshi Funaki of the Reformed Socialist Party (Incumbent)
Though many disagree with his current policies, few disparage Funaki's deeds. He was a hero of the civil war, a charismatic figure that spurred the people into action and kept morale up through his rousing speeches and connection to the people. He was a shoe-in for the first leader of the nation when election time came.
He has been the incumbent for the last twenty years, and the people have grown increasingly fatigued with him. What's more, he has evolved into a major interventionist, which many see as imperialism and warmongering. Still, he has the backing of the most popular party, and the benefit of experience and proven success.
Main Issues: Interventionism, power projection, the role of the prime ministry, domestic status quo
Manager Sosa Yoshida of the Centrists
Each of the nationalized industries have a Manager that oversees them. Yoshida is the Manager of Natural Resource Production--oil, ores, etc. are in his domain. He is also one of the few truly right-wing members of government. The Centrists run on a simple platform--denationalization, devolution and phasing in capitalism.
This year, Yoshida has also allowed them to excite the conservatives with a further plank on their platform--reeling in social policy to be more restrictive. LGBT+ rights, especially, have been a target, as they are the primary minority of the largely homogeneous island nation. This turns off some, but is only a further appeal to others. It is also combined with an isolationist foreign policy, in a contrast to the RSP that many see as refreshing.
Main Issues: Capitalism, isolationism, family values
Mayor Manabu Muso of the Communist Party
The Communist Party is the last refuge of loyalists to the old system, and they long for its return. They see the old Stalinism as a grounding, strong force that kept Halend stable for decades. They point to the rise of the Centrists as proof of the dangers inherent in democratic socialism, and call for a full dictatorship of the proletariat to stop the right from attaining power.
As Yoshida has grown more extreme, the Communist Party has soared in popularity. Muso in particular has also downplayed the phasing out of democracy and emphasized the nicer-sounding parts of the platform--'truer' socialism, equality and holding back the right.
Main Issues: Centralization, locking the right-wing out of power, realignment to original Marxist-Leninist ideals
Representative Kiyomi Kuramoto of the Minority Front
The Minority Front, just as it sounds, seeks to advance the interests of the nations minorities. They advance social rights, freedom of religion and quality of life improvement. They have used Yoshida's rhetoric against LGBT+ rights as a chance to catapult into real running for the prime ministry, advocating as an alternative to the RSP.
Kuramato, herself, is lesbian, and proud of it. She is also the youngest of the candidates, and thus hopes to ride the youth base to victory. She is perhaps the oddest candidate that actually has a shot.
Main issues: Minority advocacy, LGBT+ rights, alternative to the RSP
